Pests? In the Fall? No Thank You!
As the weather gets colder, pests go away — right? Well, not exactly. While we bundle up for sweater weather, certain pests will find warmth and comfort by inviting themselves into your home. Sigh… So much for a nice, relaxing, pest-free fall season!
To keep your family safe and worry-free, we compiled a list of the most common fall pests and how to prevent these intruders from invading your home.
The Most Common Fall Pests Are…
Rodents
Did you know that a mouse can sneak in through a hole the size of a dime? Disturbing to say the least. These furry invaders spread diseases, build nests and chew through important wiring (read: cost you a fortune in repairs).
To make matters worse, they don’t tend to travel alone. They’ll be bringing in other kinds of pests with them, such as fleas, mites, ticks, and lice — causing a whole slew of headaches. It’s important to keep rodents from invading so they don’t wreck havoc in your home.
Bed bugs
Don’t let their name deceive you! These itchy pests will infest much more than just beds. Bed bugs catch a ride on clothing and suitcases to get into your home. Once inside, they inhabit any fabrics, furniture and luggage in the house while they wait to prey on you. As long as they have a host nearby, bed bugs can survive.
Bed bugs become especially threatening in the fall and winter. After all, think about all of the family coming and going from your home. Coats, sheets, luggage, warm bodies… All of it making it easy for bed bugs to invade your home.
Not sure if you have bed bugs or just mosquito bites? Learn how to tell the difference!
Cockroaches
Besides being unsightly, creepy and quick as a whip, cockroaches have the potential to spread 33 different kinds of bacteria into your home and can trigger asthma attacks in children. In the fall, you’ll most likely find them near pipes and drains.
Cockroaches like to hide in dark, deep areas of your home, and can infest a space quickly if not appropriately treated in time. Trust us, nothing will ruin your family fall plans quite like a cockroach infestation.
Even if you only spot one wandering roach, be proactive and take the necessary steps to getting rid of cockroaches for good!
Ants
Though they’re tiny, they are fierce. This season, you might find a variety of ants marching into your home. You probably are aware of ants to an extent, but might be surprised at the damage they can cause. Odorous house ants can contaminate food and carpenter ants will damage the structure of a home.
Since they’re so tiny, ants have an easy time making their way inside. Once they find a food source, it’s simply a matter of time before they share the good news with their colony. Before you know it, you’ve got a trail of ants from your kitchen to who knows where! If this is the case, call the professionals. Ants can be difficult to treat without expert help!
Stink bugs
Named for the odor they emit when killed or frightened, stink bugs are unwanted visitors to many homes in the fall. They spend the cooler seasons inside walls, attics and crawl spaces and can damage clothing, furniture and other fabrics with their droppings.
Other than being a nuisance, stink bugs don’t pose a threat to your health like some of the other common fall pests — just maybe your nose!
Spiders
These 8-legged invaders are feared by over 30% of the US population, and for good reason! While misunderstood, spiders can be scary. Even more so when they creep into your house this fall. Spiders commonly sneak in through open doorways, windows, cracks and crevices and like to hide in corners of rooms.
While not all spiders are harmful, they definitely make the list of pests you don’t want in your home this fall.
How to Get Rid of These Common Fall Pests
1. SEAL!
This is number one on the list for a reason. Before fall approaches, be sure to seal all cracks around the foundation of your home to prevent any of these pests from getting in. Just like you, they’re seeking warmth indoors so filling any cracks is your best bet to keeping them out.
2. Keep bushes trimmed and away from the house.
Any clutter you have around your exterior — like firewood, leaves, lawn tools and other debris — creates a possible waiting space for common fall pests to habitat until an open door invites them in.
3. Clean inside your home, too.
Pests come in because it’s cold out, but they nest in messes. Always store food in airtight containers to prevent bugs from contaminating your food. You should also dust and vacuum often to prevent any invaders and eliminate pests that may be there already.
4. Research the best way to naturally treat pests.
Sure, insecticides and mouse traps work, but is it worth the trouble? Certain insecticides can cause more harm than good, and mouse traps can be a pain to maintain and dispose of.
Essential oils are an ideal alternative that effectively and organically deter pests from your home. SMART Pest Control also takes care of rodents through digital automation and professional expertise — pretty cool, huh? Contact us for more information about this method of home rodent control.
5. Last but not least, know when to leave it to the pros.
Sometimes the invasion gets out of control, and it’s best to leave it to the experts before the problem escalates. Recognize when to put down the pesticide and pick up the phone! Schedule your pest inspection with us today. We know all of the common fall pests, where they like to hide and how to get them packing.
Content was originally written on September 30, 2016. Content was refreshed on November 1, 2019.